Paris : or, the future of war

In this compact yet probing study, the author treats war as a disease whose history offers a medical diagnosis. Drawing on episodes from the Great Exhibition of 1851 to the trenches of the recent world conflict, he shows how lofty ideals and diplomatic treaties have repeatedly collapsed under the weight of human ambition. By comparing the costly aftermath of the Great War with earlier attempts at lasting peace, he asks whether the true remedy lies in reshaping the human spirit rather than merely disarming nations.

The book surveys the foundations of traditional military thinking, exposing the stubborn customs and prejudices that have guided generals for centuries. It also revisits the warnings of a pre‑war Warsaw banker whose forecasts of stalemate were dismissed, only to be validated by the brutal stalemate of 1914‑18. Throughout, the narrative invites listeners to consider how a more rational, compassionate approach might alter the trajectory of future conflicts, without revealing the final conclusions.